Stalk and straw chopper.



w. w. GRAY aF.. P. wlTzscHE.

STALK AND STRAW CHOPPER.

APPLICATION ElLED NOV. 9. 1914. 1,156,992. 'Patented 0015.19, 1915.l

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APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. 1914.

1,156,992. Patented oet. 19, 1915.

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Specification of Lettersatent. Y i Patented 19;

Application aieanpveniber 9,1914.` SeriaiNo. 871,161; Y'

- To @ZZ whom z'tmay concern.'

Be it known that we, Vl/VALIJACF.' lV. GRAY and FRANK P VVi'rzsci-In, lcitizens ofthe United States, residing at Lott, in the Vcounty of Falls and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefiillmprovev ments in Stalk-and Straw Choppers; and

we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. ,v

Cur invention relates broadly to improvements in agricultural implements andl specifically to stalk, straw and weed choppers for attachment to plows. Y

` The mainv objectn of thefliiiveifi'tion fis'to provide an extremely simple device having a number of advantageous features, and to construct the same in such a manner as to render it readily applicable to any plow j beam.A

In carrying out the above end, a further object becomes to provide novel means for mounting the cutter proper in such a manner as to allow the same to have a slight amount of vertical movement against a pair of springs.

Yet another object is to provide an adjustable attaching bracket for connecting the 'device to a plow and to connect a cutter carrying frame to said bracket, Yin such a manner as to allow said frame to be adjust- Ved laterally, thereby adjusting the cutter toward one side of the plow or theV other.

With the above and minor obj ects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device Vconstructed in accordance with my invention, showing its application lto the beam of a plow; Fig. 2 is a transversevertical sece tion as seen on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing'one of the adjusted positions of the cutter carrying frame, in dotted lines; Fig. 3

is 'a similar View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. e is a perspective view of one of the attaching brackets; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the cutter carrying frame.

In the accompanying drawings, an ordiy zontal arms (see more particularlylFig. 3) areV provided with slots l3 through which pairsof clamping bolts 4' rise, said bolts ikewise passing through slots 5 formed in a horizontal transverse bar 6 which constitiraron l tutes a portion ofv an inverted U-shaped ciit-v f ter carrying frame, the opposite ends of said bars 6 being bent downwardly to provide a pair of parallel arms 7,5whose lower ends are provided with vertical slots 8.

j Mounted for vertical movement `*within the slots 8 is ahorizontal transvers'evshaft 9 etY which isv provided with stops 10 contacting j with the inner sides of the arms 7, a'iidfwitli other stops 11 spaced 'inwardly from-those designated at 10', said stops 11 holding la l'pair of' lfour-1ari'n'ed' spidersl '12 against -eralshifting on the shaft. The two spiders 12 are connected by cutting blades 13 as most clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3,y and are revolubly mounted upon the shaft as most clearly disclosed in the last named figure.

Bv reference to the lvarious figures of the drawings, itA will'be seen that the free ends `of theshaft 9 are'passed through eyes 14 on the lower ends of upright rods 15, said rods the upper end portions of the arms 7, said guides being here shown in the form of eye 'sof having their upper ends slidably mounted 1 in guides 16 which project laterally from cutting blades into contact with the litter on the ground,` and which allow said cutters to move upwardly in caseva stone or other obstacle should be struck. Cotter pins 18 are preferably passed through the free ends of the shaft 9 for the purpose of preventing' removal of the eyes 14. f

A device constructed iny accordance with the above description and the accompai'iyinge;V

illustration,Vv possesses numerous advantages, the most prominentrbei'ng the fact that the icc two brackets 2, may be spaced suitable disl tances t-o render the device applicable toany size plow beam,`without altering the latter in any manner whatsoever. A further advantage is derived by the adjustable connection between the brackets and the U-y lshaped frame, since said frame may be ade j usted laterally withrespectjtothe brackets1 as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby correctly 'centering the cutter with respect to the plow P, thus insuring cutting ,of all vlos f stalks, straw, weeds or other litter before the soil is turned by the plow.

From the foregoing description take-n in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that an extremely simple device has been provided for carrying out the objects of the invention, yet that the efficiency thereof is not impaired by such simplicity.

We claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising an attaching bracket designed for connection to a plow beam, an inverted U-shaped frame secured to said bracket, said frame having upright slots in its parallel arms, a shaft projecting through said slots and a rotary cutter mounted on the shaft between the arms, guides projecting laterally from said arms, upright rods slidable in said guides and having eyes surrounding the shaft, and coiled springs encircling said rods and interposed between the guides and the eyes.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair o1 spaced L-shaped brackets movable one toward the other and designed for connection to a plow beam, an inverted U-shaped frame beneath the horizontal arms on said brackets and adjustably secured thereto, the parallel upright arms in said frame havingupright slots, a transverse shaft mounted for vertical movement in said slots, a rotary cutter mounted on said shaft between the arms, guides projecting laterally from said arms, upright rods slidable in said guides and having eyes encircling` the shaft, and coiled springs encircling said rods and interposed between the guides and the eyes.

ln testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALLACE W. GRAY. FRANK P. VTZSCHE.

Witnesses:

F. J. GAUSEMEIER, B. P. HoELsoHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents` Washington, 2D. C. 

